15 Tips For Better Oral Health and Whiter Teeth

  1. Crest Whitestrips – When it comes to oral care and whitening, who better to turn to than Crest (Proctor and Gamble). They’re the #1 seller of teeth whitening products on the market, with options and kits for everyone. Crest Whitestrips contain a thin layer of gel on each strip that is applied to the teeth for anywhere from 5 minutes to 1 hour and results can be noticeable after just 1 treatment.
  1. Oil Pulling – Sometimes it’s best to take it from the ancients in terms of natural health care, # 14 is debatable… The technique of oil pulling involves using about a tablespoon of oil (coconut, olive, sesame, etc.) and “pulling” or swishing it around your mouth for anywhere from 5-20 minutes. Most oils are antibacterial and this method is supposed to draw toxins from the mouth and body and encapsulates them in the oil droplets. Once the 20 minutes is up, simply discard the oil into the trash and NEVER swallow it after using it to oil pull.
  1. Activated Charcoal – Here’s another wellness trend that doubles as a natural teeth whitener. Brushing this black powder onto your teeth might seem counterintuitive, but charcoal works on your teeth and in your mouth the same way it does when ingested. It is best known for binding to toxins and poisons and pulling them out of the body, especially after exposure to food poisoning or allergens. When applied to teeth, it also helps bind to plague and build up, leaving your teeth bright and clean!
  1. Lasers – This is by far the most expensive and possibly the most dangerous form of teeth whitening available. A strong bleaching agent, usually hydrogen peroxide, is applied to the teeth in gel form. It is then “heated” onto the teeth using a dental laser to help it set for a quick and dramatic whitening effect. The concentration of bleach or hydrogen peroxide is doubled or even triple to that in even the strongest pack of whitestrips, so it is advised to be careful when choosing this option.
  1. Bleaching Trays – Whitening and bleaching trays work in a similar fashion to whtiestrips, but can be a little more difficult and messy to apply. Each set comes with a tube of bleaching gel that is squeezed into the mouth tray and applied to teeth for various amounts of time depending on the strength of the gel. While they do give great results, they are a little more time consuming to use and clean up is never fun.
  1. Floss – Using dental floss or picks seems basic, but it’s something so many of us forget to do regularly. Flossing not only helps limit the plaque buildup on teeth, it prevents infections, inflammation and tooth decay, which leads to a cleaner and healthier mouth and a whiter smile.
  1. LED Whitening Light – This is a lot like having your own mini professional laser treatment right at home. You apply a tray to your teeth and the LED light helps activate the gel a lot quicker than trays or whitestrips on their own, giving faster results.
  1. Non-Peroxide Whitening Strips – These are a great alternative to those sensitive to traditional Crest Whitestrips and hydrogen peroxide. They are still applied and used the same as regular white strips, but don’t generally have the same whitening effect or results.
  1. Strawberries – These are known to be good for a quick, short-term whitening fix. The citric acid in strawberries (mixed with a little baking soda) is great for removing plaque, but the whitening effect does not usually last very long.
  1. Lemon – Another natural and quick home whitening treatment. Lemon has been known for its toning and brightening properties for skin, hair, and teeth. It’s best used like strawberries and mixed with a little bit of baking soda to create a paste and apply to your teeth. Just make sure to rinse well after a minute or so. Too much can damage your enamel.
  1. Whitening Toothpaste – Almost every dental or oral hygiene company has their own whitening toothpaste available. Many are made with baking soda or hydrogen peroxide, but see what works best for you. The toothpastes are a great starting point for teeth whitening to see what your teeth and gums can and cannot handle as far as ingredients go because they are in much small concentrations in toothpastes.
  1. Baking Soda – Baking soda has been mentioned in a few other numbers already, but it really is one of the best all around products for teeth and so much more! There are thousands of ways to use baking soda. As far as teeth go, you can simply make a paste with water and brush it on for a minute before rinsing. It’s a very mild abrasive, which is what helps it remove more recent stains and build up from teeth and is also why it makes for a great household cleaner!
  1. Clean Up Your Diet – There’s more than one reason your parents told you to eat your fruit and vegetables when you were younger. What you eat affects every part of your body, especially your oral care and teeth. Fruits, vegetables, and clean protein, grains, and fats all help clean and strengthen your teeth. Try to avoid food and drinks known to stain teeth and promote tooth decay such as coffee, sugar, wine, tea, etc.
  1. Urine (Do Not Do This!) – Unfortunately that wasn’t a typo.. If you go back and read some of the ancient Roman and Egyptian literature, quite a few cultures were known for gargling with urine to whiten their teeth. While there really isn’t a need to use urine with today’s products and alternative whitening solutions, the main component of urine, urea, is a great anti bacterial agent. It breaks down to form ammonia, which is commonly found in many household cleaning agents, which also makes it very effective at removing excess buildup and plaque from your teeth, but this isn’t one we were wiling to test out..
  1. Turmeric – Is there anything it’s not good for?! We’ve all heard about the amazing anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric, but not only will it help prevent gum disease and reduce redness, it will also help whiten and clean your teeth. Just mix a small amount with about a tbsp of coconut oil and brush on for about 3-5 minutes before rinsing well.

Author Bio: Nora Abbas is a former dental hygienist, turned writer & ambassador for Cali White (www.caliwhite.co.uk) who believes in the importance of oral care. When she’s not helping others to care for their smile, she’s playing with her cute labrador and cooking up a storm in the kitchen.